Regulator



B. GARLLUS REGULATOR Oct. 22, 1935.

Filed May 29, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l B. GARLLUS Oct. 22, 1935.-

REGULATOR Filed May 29, 19s;

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 367716 GarZL as ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 22, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REGULATOR Application May 29, 1933, Serial No. 673,543

4 Claims.

The invention relates to regulators more particularly designed for use in the control of drafts of steam generating furnaces so as to regulate the pressure of the steam. It is the object of the invention to obtain a simple construction of mechanism responsive to variations in steam pressure and which will effect a. step by step adjustment of the dampers or other means for controlling the generation of steam. To this end the invention consists in the construction as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view of my improved regulator;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation showing diagrammatically its connection with a stack damper;

Fig. 3 is a cross section through the valve which controls the hydraulic cylinder.

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view thereof.

Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the apparatus.

My improved regulator is preferably constructed to form a unit which may be placed at any convenient point where it may be connected to the steam line and which is also connected by a cord or cable with the damper operating mechanism. As illustrated in Fig. 1 A is a shelf or bracket which may be mounted on the wall or on any other convenient support, B is a cylinder supported on the shelf; C is a casing containing a flexible diaphragm D provided with a nipple Ev through which it may be connected to a conduit F leading to the steam supply. G is a lever which is fulcrumed on a bracket C on the casing Cand which has a knife edged pivot G resting on a bearing lock D on the diaphragm D. The free end. of this lever has suspended therefrom by an adjustable loop H a counterweight I. The lever is also provided with an upwardly extending arm G on which is fulcrumed a lever J having one end J connected by a spring K with an anchorage at the base of the arm G The opposite end of the lever J is pivotally connected to a link L and the latter is pivotally connected to the rod M of the piston M in the cylinder B. This rod M is also connected to the cord or cable N which extends to the damper and as diagrammatically shown in Fig. 2, is attached to a weighted lever arm 0 which when raised will close the damper and when released will open the damper.

Mounted on a bracket P on the shelf A is a valve casing Q containing inlet and outlet controlling valves R and S for the cylinder B. These valves are operated by a rock arm T within a chamber Q in the valve casing Q which in turn is actuated by a rock-shaft T extending out of the casing and connected to a lever T extending transversely of and above the lever G. An adjusting screw T is arranged in the lever T to 5 bear against the upper side of the lever G, the arrangement being such that the raising of the lever G will rock the lever T and shaft T, thereby rocking the arm T and actuating the valve R to raise the same from its seat. On the other hand, 10 a downward movement of the lever G will produce a reverse movement of the parts which will first seat the valve R and then unseat the exhaust valve S. The valve R controls water under pressure, which is admitted through a conduit U 15 from any convenient source, such as a city water supply, and when said valve is unseated, water is admitted to the chamber Q from which it passes through a conduit U and fitting U to a conduit U connecting with the cylinder above the piston M. The valve S when unseated connects the chamber Q with an exhaust conduit V permitting the drain of water from said chamber and also from the cylinder B.

Operation With the construction as above described, the regulator may be adjusted to maintain a predetermined steam pressure in the steam line. This pressure is communicated through the conduit F to the diaphragm D which through the knife edged pivot G tends to lift the lever G. The lifting of the lever G is resisted by the counterweight I plus the reaction of the spring K acting through the lever J, link L and arm G Thus by adjusting the counterweight I or by adjusting the tension of the spring K, the resistance to the lifting of the lever G may be varied. Assuming that proper adjustment has been made, the lever G will be in its neutral position when the steam pressure is at the desired point. If then the pressure is increased, this will raise the lever G, which through the medium of the lever T rock shaft T, rock arm T, Will unseat the valve R, admitting water from the supply con- 45 duit U to the chamber Q from which it passes through the conduits U, fitting U and conduit U to the cylinder B above the piston M. This depresses the piston and its rod M, drawing downward the cable N which lifts the counterweighted arm 0 and moves the damper P towards closed position. Inasmuch, however, as the rod M is connected through the link L with the lever J, the depression of this rod will rock said lever,

thereby increasing the tension of the spring K. a

Thus the valve R will be again seated, which will arrest further depression of the piston M. If,

however, the pressure in the steam line continues to increase, it will again lift the lever G, repeating the operations just described and moving the piston M down another step before the valve R is again seated to arrest further action. Thus if the steam pressure continues to rise, this step by step adjustment of the damper will continue until steam generation is checked to reduce the pressure. The operation just described is illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 5 of the drawings in which the levers G, J and link L are shown in full lines in one position. There is also illustrated in dotted lines the depressed position of the rod M, link L and the turning of the lever J (assuming that the lever G is held stationary). A third position is illustrated in broken lines, assuming that the rod M remains in the position shown in dotted lines so that the lever G is free to swing about its fulcrum pivot C.

It will be noted by comparing these three positions that in thechange from the full line po-' sition to the dotted line position, the spring K is elongated and placed under increased tension. It will be further noted that in the change from dotted position to' the broken line position the the spring K contracts in length to the same as that shown in the full line position, so as to be under the same tension. Thus when the rod M is either depressed or raised, this will correspondingly'increase or decrease the load on the lever G, so as to cause movement thereof. This movement will through the lever G and associated 'mechanism, operate the valves R and S so as to 'hold the piston and the rod M in its position of adjustment. On the other hand, if the steam pressure operating on the lever G is increased or decreased, this will directly move said lever, causing a corresponding adjustment of the valves and the movement of the piston M to a corresponding position. Stated in another way, the operation of the device is as follows: When the rod M is depressed by a movement of the piston M, this through the pivotal link L will depress the outer end of the lever J which (assuming the lever G remains stationary) turns on the fulcrum J 2 and will elongate the spring K, thereby increasing its tension. However, as the lever .J is pivotally connected to the link L and said link ispivotally connected to the rod M, the

effect of this increased tension of the spring K will be to increase the load on the lever G. This is for the reason that the lever J is fulcrumed upon the lever G so that the resultant increased tension in the spring K coacting with the pivotal connection to the link L (which may be regarded as stationary) is to place increased downward pressure on the lever G. In other words, if the lever G werefree to move downward, swinging about its fulcrum bearing C, this downward movement of the levers G and J would decrease the elongation of the spring K, eventually restoring it to the same length and the same tension to the knife edged pivots of the lever G which reduce to the minimum frictional resistance to movement of said lever; also by providing a ball bearing J for the fulcrum of the lever J which reduces frictional resistance to the rocking of said lever. Thus the load caused by the'combined action of the counterweight I and the tension of the spring K will be balanced against the steam pressure on the diaphragm, so that a slight variation in said pressure will cause a movement of the piston to effect an adjustment of the damper.

What I claim as my invention is: V

l. A regulator comprising a cylinder, a piston therein, a connection between said piston and the device to be regulated, an inlet valve for admitting fluid under pressure to said cylinder, an outlet valve'for the fluid in said cylinder, a lever connected to said valves to operate the same respectively by opposite movements from a neutral position, steam actuated means for moving said lever to operate one of said valves, counteracting loading means for resisting such movement of the leverand for moving the same in the opposite direction, and a connection between said piston and said lever including an auxiliary lever iulcrumed upon said first lever and a resilient yieldable element adapted to increase or diminish the counteracting load thereon respectively upon opposite movements of the piston in said cylinder whereby the amplitude of movement of said piston will be in proportion to variation in pressure of steam.

2. A regulator comprising a cylinder, 9. piston therein, a connection between said piston and the device to be regulated, an inlet valve for admitting fluid under pressure to said cylinder, an outlet valve for the fluid in said cylinder, a lever connected to said valves to operate the same respectively by opposite movements from a neutral position, steam actuated means for moving said lever to operate one of said valves, counteracting loading means for resisting such movement of said lever and for moving the same in the opposite direction, an auxiliary lever fulcrumed on said first lever, a pivotal link connecting one arm of said auxiliary lever to said piston,

and a resilient yieldable element between said let valve for the fluid in said cylinder, a. lever ful-i crumed onsaid frame connected to said valves to operate the same respectively by opposite movements from a neutral position, a steam actuated flexible diaphragm for moving said lever to operate one of said valves, adjustable counteracting loading means for resisting such movement of said lever and for moving thesame in 'the opposite direction, an auxiliary lever ful- -crumed on said first lever, a pivotal link connecting one arm of said auxiliary lever with said piston, and a resilient yieldable member connecting an oppositely extending arm of said auxiliary lever with said first lever adapted to increase or diminish the counteracting load on the latter respectively upon opposite movements of the piston in said cylinder whereby the amplitude of movement of said piston will be in proportion to the variation of pressure of the steam.

4. A regulator comprising a frame, a cylinder mounted thereon, a piston in said cylinder, a piston rod, a flexible connection between said piston rod and the device to be regulated, a lever fulcrumed on said frame, a steam actuated flexible diaphragm for raising said lever, adjustable counteracting loading means for resisting such movement of said lever and for moving the same in the opposite direction, a transversely extending lever actuated by the movement of said first lever, a rock shaft actuated by the second lever, a casing containing inlet and outlet valves respectively for admitting fluid to said cylinder and for exhausting the same, a rock arm actuated by said rock shaft for operating said valves by opposite rocking movements, an auxiliary lever fulcrumed on said firstlever, a pivotal link connecting said piston rod with one arm of said auxiliary lever, and a resilient yieldable member connecting an oppositely extending arm of said auxiliary lever with said first lever adapted to increase or diminish the counteracting load on the latter respectively upon opposite movements of the piston in said cylinder whereby the amplitude of movement of said piston will be in proportion to the variation in pressure of the steam. 

